Coaches and scouts are always talking about the "FIVE TOOL" baseball player.  A five tool player has the following skills:

Glove, Speed, Arm, Hitting and Hit with Power

Is there a sixth tool that is just as important as the five listed above?  The answer is yes and that tool is "Attitude".  Attitude is a combination of mental make-up, discipline, committment, work ethic and game knowledge.

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success.  You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime." 
--Babe Ruth--

This was the first time the Predators have played in a USSSA Tournament and our first trip to Leesburg.  The Predators had a slow start on Saturday in Pool Play with a loss and a tie.  The only thing hurt on Saturday was our seeding for the single elimination tournament on Sunday and our pride. 

On Sunday, the real Predators showed up at the ball field and by chance had to play the same two teams that they played on Saturday.  The outcome of the games on Sunday were totally different. In the first game, the Predators defeated the Orlando Chaos 16 - 2 and in the second game the Predators defeated the Winter Spring Wild 16 - 0.  This advanced the Predators to the Championship game against the Orlando Knights.

Championship Game -  Predators 4; Orlando Knights 5:  In a very hard fought and close game against the Orlando Knights the Predators came up one run short and loss the game to the Knights 5 - 4.  This game went down to the final inning and final at bat.  The Predators played well but the Knights, behind strong pitching in the late innings and timely hits, were able to hold off the Predators.

Congratiulation Predators on an outstanding performance in your first USSSA Baseball Tournament and taking 2nd Place in the 14U AAA Division.

Details of the five games will be put on the Game Recap Page of this site as soon as the statistics for the tournament have been compiled.

Fielding a Ground Ball:  After you catch a ground ball, don't stand up and then start the throwing motion.  Stay low, like you are in a tunnel, and move towards your throwing target.  This will get the ball to the target much quicker than standing up and winding up to throw.  After you throw the ball, your body should follow the throw.  Explode toward your target.  This is all made easier if you move your feet so that when you catch the ball your body is inline with your target.

Hitting Tip:  Loading is making sure that your hands are back over your right foot before you start the swing.  When a coach tells you to stay back on a swing, he wants you to keep your hands back not your body.  The hands have to stay inside the baseball executing am inside out swing.  Visualize a railroad track from the pitcher to the plate.  The ball is on one track, the outside track, and your hands need to move following the inside railroad track.

Outfield Tip:  Only catch a ground ball on the side if it is a slow roller or you have to make the winning play at the plate.  On routine ground balls or base hits to the outfield, catch the ball with your body in front of the ball.

Mental Tip:  An excellent hitter get a hit three out of every ten times he goes to the plate.  If you have a poor at bat the first time you go to the plate, don't let that effect your play in the field or your next at bat.  Everytime you go to the plate, it is a new challenge.  Stay positive at all times even if others around you are being negative.